Reversing gear for internal-combustion engines



Jam, 15 192%. L4$Q7 Filed m 26, 1920 2 sheet -swag 1 N VEN TOR.

o'r-ro fl. BANNER ATTORNEi.

Jan. 15 19240 a? 0. A. BANNER REVERSING GEAR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed June 26. 1920 2 Sheets-Shaw z IN VEN TOR.

OTTO H BAA/IVER Patented Jan. 15, 1924.

OTTO A. BANNER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

Application filed June 26, 1920. Serial No. 391,971.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, O'rro A. BANNER, a citizen of Germany, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Reversing Gears for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to reversing gear for internal combustion engines.

A common type of reversing mechanism for this purpose includes two sets of cams, one set for effecting the properly timed operation of the several valves during forward running of the engine, and the other set for effecting the properly timed operation of the valves during reverse running, various forms of mechanism having been devised for selectively placing the valves under the control of either of the cam sets. For example, in those instances where each valve is actuated by a rocker or tappet arm, it is not uncommon practice to interpose between each arm and the cams an element operatively connected with the arm and adjustable so that it may be positioned within the path of a cam of either set.

The primary object of the present invention is to simplify the construction and improve the operation of reversing gear of the character referred to. This is accomplished by making use of the shaft upon which the several rockers or tappet arms are mounted as a means for simultaneously placing the several rockers, and consequently their corresponding valves, under the control of either of the cam sets.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side view of a portion of the cam shaftemployed and illustrating the it is herein illustrated as applied to a four cycle, four cylinder engine, each cylinder 10 being provided with an air inlet valve 11, an exhaust valve 12, and an air starting valve 13 of any standard or approved design.v Each valve is actuated by a rocker 85 or tappet arm 14, 15 or 16, mounted for independent rocking movement upon a common shaft 17 extending lengthwise of the engine. Spaced forward and reverse cams 18 and 19 are provided for actuating each 71 tappet arm. These cams are preferably, though not necessarily, carried by a nonshiftable, single cam shaft 20 which is driven by means not shown preferably from the engine crank shaft 21 so as to insure 75' the required timed relation between these shafts. When it is desired to operate the engine in a forward direction, each of the several tappet arms are placed under the control of its corresponding cam 18 and when operating the engine in the other direction each tappet arm is removed from the influence of its cam 18 and placed under the control of its cam 19. This is accompllshed by the use'of a series of reversing elements 22, such, for instance, as illustrated in Figure 2. Each reversing element is therein shown as pivotally mounted at 23, preferably at the end of one of the tappet arms, and is provided with a pair of rollers 24 and 25, arranged on spaced axes 26 and 27. Roller 24 lies in the plane of rotation of cam 18, while roller 25 lies in the plane of rotation of cam 19. In the position illustrated in Figures 2, Sand 4,

roller 24 of each reversing element 22 is in the path of its corresponding forward cam 18 so that, upon rotation of the cam shaft, the several tappet arms and valves are actuated in proper timed relation for forward running. Byswinging the several'reversing elements in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2), roller 24 of each element is shifted out of the path of rotation of its corresponding cam 18 and each roller 25 is positioned within the path of its corresponding cam 19. In this position, the several valves are actuated in proper timed relation for reverse running.

As above pointed out, use is made of the valve actuatin shaft 17 in efiecting the simultaneous shifting of the several reversing elements from the forward to reverse positions and vice versa. For this purpose, shaft 17 is rotatably journaled in bearings 28, preferably secured to the cylinders 10. A series of arms 29 are keyed or otherwise fixed to the shaftand each arm is operatively connected by a link 30 to a reversing element 22. Any appropriate means, such as a hand lever 31, is provided for controlling the position of shaft 17 and the several reversing elements. In the present instance, the hand lever is conveniently mounted upon one end of shaft 17 and is provided with the usual latch 32 for cooperation with a sector 33 extending from an adjacent bearing 28.

Thus it will be seen that when the lever 31 is in the position shown in Figure 2, all of the valves are under the control of the forward cams 18. By moving the lever in a clockwise direction the shaft 17 is rotated in its bearings and the arms 29 and reversing elements 22 shifted so that all of the valves are placed under the control of the reverse cams 19.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention hereinabove specifically described without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an internal combustion engine a reversing gear having a rotatable shaft, a rocker element mounted thereon for roc ing movement about a fixed axis, forward and reverse cams for selectively actuating said element, and means responsive to a rotation of said shaft for placing said rocker element under the influence of either of said cams.

2. In an internal combustion engine a re versing gear having a rotatable shaft, a non-shiftable valve actuating rocker element rockably mounted thereon, forward and reverse cams for selectively actuating said element, and means responsive to a rotation of said shaft for placing said rocker element under the influence of either of said cams.

3. In an internal combustion engine a reversing gear having a rotatable shaft, a plurality of valve act'uating rocker elements mounted thereon for independent rocking movement about a fixed axis, non-shiftable forward and reverse cam sets for selectively actuating said rocker elements, and means responsive'to a rotation of said shaft for placing said rocker elements under the influence of either of said cam sets.

4. In a reversing gear for internal combustion engines, the combination with a forward cam and a reverse cam, of a rotatable shaft, a valve actuating rocker element supported by said shaft, a reversing element connected with said rocker element, a .cam

roller on said reversing element for cooperation with said forward cam. a second cam roller on said reversing element for cooperation with said reverse cam, and connections between said shaft and said reversing element, so that when said shaft is in one position, said first named roller is in operative relation with said forward cam, and when said shaft is in another position said second named roller is in operative relation with said reverse cam.

5. In an internal combustion engine a reversing gear comprising a rocker element, a rotatable support for said rocker element, forward and reverse cams. and an element interposable between said rocker element and cams and controlled by the position of said support for placing said rocker element under the control of either of said cams.

6. In a reversing gear-the combination of a rocker element, a rotatable support for said rocker element. forward and reverse cams, a reversing element connected with said rocker element, and connections between said reversin element and said rotatable support for p acing said reversing and rocker elements under the control of either of said cams.

7. In a reversing gear the combination of a rotatable shaft, a plurality of'rocker elements mounted on said shaft for independent rocking movement, a reversing element connected with each of said rocker elements, a set of forward cams, a set of reverse cams, and connections between said reversing elements and said shaft for placing said reversing and rocker elements underthe control of either of said sets of cams.

8. In a reversing gear the combination of a rotatable shaft, a plurality of rocker elements mounted on said shaft for independent rocking movement, a reversing element connected with each of said rocker elements, a cam shaft having a set of forward cams and a set of reverse cams thereon, connections between said reversing elements and said first named shaft for placing said reversin and rocker elements under the control 0 either of said cam sets, and means for controllingthe position of said first named shaft.

9. In an internal combustion engine, a reversing gear comprising a valve actuating rocker element, a fulcrum shaft for said rocker element, forward and reverse cams for selectively actuating said rocker element, and an element interposable between said rocker element and cams and controlled by said shaft for placing said rocker element under the control of either said forward cam or said reverse cam.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe I my name this 24th day of June, 1920.

OTTO A. BANNER. 

